EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—The realization that the New York Giants’ season was over hit Eli Manning hard Sunday. You could feel the disappointment at his postgame press conference.

“It hurts,” Manning said, not long after the Giants learned they had failed to make the playoffs despite pummeling the Philadelphia Eagles, 42-7. “You don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to have to be on a team that has the talent to possibly win a championship. We’re disappointed that we didn’t play up to our ability each week."

Giants vs. Eagles: Eli Manning produced one of his finest performances, but it was too little, too late. (AP Photo)

Manning can root for his brother Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the playoffs. But the Giants’ season was ruined by a lack of consistency that robbed them of a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

Eli has more Super Bowl rings (two) than his brother (one). Eli has been a monster in the playoffs. But Peyton, even with a new team, remains the more consistent quarterback—the one you’d trust more to lead you through a season, like in Week 8 when you are favored to win by 10 points. With his continued excellence, Peyton could win his fifth NFL MVP award, and he continues to show why he’s an all-time great quarterback.

This is Eli’s next challenge, to become more reliable, and to avoid more wasted opportunities like this season. Both the Giants and Broncos took on the personality of their quarterbacks. The Broncos played with Peyton’s machine-like precision, closing with an 11-game winning streak that carried them to the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

The Giants fluctuated from sizzling hot to ice cold, just like Eli. Manning threw five touchdown passes Sunday, yet the Giants felt sick leaving Met Life Stadium, knowing several teams they beat soundly were getting ready for the playoffs.

However, the Giants also had terrible performances, a 31-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and two December losses that crushed them—a 34-0 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and a 33-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Even coach Tom Coughlin could not explain how the Giants played so poorly against Atlanta and Baltimore, when they still controlled their playoff destiny.

“I really do want to discuss with some of the players what in the world was the last two weeks all about,” Coughlin said. “Quite frankly, I’m anxious to find out if anybody has an opinion or an answer. That’s not to say that the two teams that we played weren’t outstanding football teams—they are. But we certainly could have been a lot more competitive."

Eli could also have been more consistent. He had that awful three-week stretch from Weeks 8 through 10, when he failed to throw a touchdown pass. Against the Falcons, Manning’s passer rating was an abysmal 38.9. That’s Ryan Lindley territory.

You can’t put the blame for the Giants’ shortcomings solely at Manning’s feet. The defensive line, so dominant in 2011, was dormant in 2012. Osi Umenyiora, who may have played his last game as a Giant, was disappointing, as were Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. For opposing quarterbacks, playing against the Giants just wasn’t as scary.

That’s another reason Eli needed to have his best season. He didn’t. He had eight fewer touchdown passes (21) than in 2011, and he threw for a lower percentage of completions, 59.8 percent, compared to 61 percent last season.

Manning did not take a step forward, and neither did the Giants (9-7). Nine wins got the Giants a playoff berth and the NFC East title in 2011. This season, nine wins got the Giants nothing but a ride home. Before the season, Tuck mentioned the possibility of a Giants dynasty. Missing the playoffs felt like a slap in the face.

“I’ve been 10-6 and not made the playoffs,” Tuck said. “You have to win the ones you are supposed to. That’s why division games mean so much. If we had won our division games, we’d still be in the driver’s seat. Funny year.”

That’s the fine line walked by teams in the NFL. With just 16 games, one loss can easily mean the difference between missing the playoffs and making it. That was painfully reinforced for the Giants and Eli.

“I know we’re not playing football next week, and it’s slowly kicking in," Manning said. “I know tomorrow (Monday) is always a tough day, when you go in the locker room and kind of say your goodbyes.”

Peyton and the Broncos don’t have to say goodbye Monday. They still have a chance to win it all.

Eli will be rooting for them—now that the Giants are done—but he’d rather be playing.